With regard to the article "Battered women: Prison better than life with our cruel fathers" (May 1), the women mentioned in this article did not make "mistakes," as was suggested by the spokesman of the General Directorate of Prisons. These women have been failed by a flawed system that allows abuse of women at the hands of their mahrams (guardians), and then protects the abusers and imprisons the victims. These women have been failed by society and deserve much better. What a sad reflection of a culture that chooses to remain in denial about a serious problem like this. Susie of Arabia, Online response Susie of Arabia is correct! I have to wonder: Do all of these abusive men pray five times a day? Are these men thought of as good in the eyes of the community? Where is the shame and condemnation for them, instead of toward their daughters, wives and mothers? Where is the public outcry? Grandmother, Online response What these women and others are facing in the Arab world is cruel. No woman should have to face the ordeal they are faced with. It really looks bad when our enemies are using our own mistakes to paint our religion as bad. It is time we get out of this jahiliyya state of mind by treating our mothers, sisters and daughters with dignity. Abubakr, Online response